Do you tip when you eat out or receive great service? Are you the type to leave a generous gratuity or just stick to the standard percentage? Tipping has been a hot topic for centuries, sparking debates, cultural clashes, and even lawsuits. Here are six interesting stories and facts about tipping practices from around the world.
1. Jailed Over a Mandatory Tip
Back in 2009, two college students, John Wagner and Leslie Pope, made headlines when they were jailed for refusing to pay a $16.35 mandatory service charge at a Pennsylvania restaurant. Their group of friends had waited over an hour for their meals and even fetched their own drinks and silverware due to poor service. The pair argued the tip was undeserved and paid only $73.87 of their $90.22 bill. They were charged with theft, but the case garnered national attention and sparked debates over whether tipping should be tied to service quality. The charges were eventually dropped, but the controversy left diners across the country questioning mandatory gratuities.
2. Switzerland’s No-Tipping Policy
In Switzerland, tipping became a thing of the past in 1974. A tax dispute over gratuities led to the practice being abolished altogether. Today, service charges are built into menu prices, and higher wages ensure fair compensation for workers. Interestingly, a similar proposal was floated in Massachusetts to raise servers’ wages to match the state minimum. The ballot initiative failed, with 64% voting against it—and many of the opponents were servers themselves, who argued that tipping often brought them more income than a higher hourly wage would.
3. Kerry Packer’s Unbelievable Tips
Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer was known for his outrageous generosity. On one occasion, he accidentally bumped into a cocktail waitress, spilling her tray of drinks. To apologize, he paid off her $130,000 mortgage. In another instance, he tipped $150,000 to clear another waitress’s mortgage as a thank-you for exceptional service. These jaw-dropping acts of generosity remain legendary in tipping lore and show how gratuities can sometimes change lives.
4. The Failed Attempt to Introduce Tipping to Japan
In 2021, a U.S.-based initiative called The Tip Project aimed to bring American tipping culture to Japan. The idea was met with fierce resistance, as tipping is considered “un-Japanese” and unnecessary due to the country’s emphasis on excellent service being a standard, not an extra. Locals argued that tipping undermined their cultural values of respect and equality. By early 2023, the project was abandoned, cementing Japan’s status as one of the few countries where tipping remains uncommon and often unwelcome.
5. Tipping Was Once Illegal in America
Believe it or not, tipping was so unpopular in early 20th-century America that six states made it illegal in 1915. After the Civil War, tipping was viewed as an elitist European import that clashed with American ideals of equality. Critics called it “a cancer in the breast of democracy” and “offensively un-American.” Despite these sentiments, tipping persisted and eventually became a standard practice, though debates over its fairness and necessity continue to this day.
6. The Waitress Who Won Big—but Paid the Price
Tonda Dickerson, a waitress in Alabama, received a tip that changed her life—a lottery ticket that hit the jackpot for $10 million. What followed was a whirlwind of legal battles. Her co-workers sued, claiming they deserved a share. The man who tipped her demanded a truck, claiming it was part of their deal. To top it off, the IRS pursued her for gift taxes on the ticket. While the jackpot seemed like a dream come true, it came with a hefty dose of drama and challenges, proving that not all tips lead to happy endings.
Tipping is more than just leaving a few extra dollars—it’s a cultural, economic, and sometimes controversial practice that varies widely around the world. What are your thoughts on tipping?